Missile extraction device

ABSTRACT

A device for moving a missle having shoes in a container or canister having launch rails for engaging the shoes. The device includes a bracket for attachment to one end of the container, a bar disposed for movable cooperation with the rails and a ratchet for cooperation between the bracket and bar for movement thereof along the rails. A claw member is pivoted on the bar and disposed for engagement with one of the shoes for operation of the ratchet to remove the missile from the container. The claw is disposed for engagement with the shoe to slide the missile into the container.

Appleby et al.

MISSILEEXTRACTION DEVICE Inventors: Frank G. Applehy, Cypress; Edmund J. RodwamVenice; William Lee, Costa Mesa, all of Calif.

Assigneer The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC.

Filed: Jan. 22, 1973 Appl. No.: 325,498

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 118,015, Feb. 23, 1971, abandoned.

US. Cl. 89/ 1.805, 89/47 IntuCl F4lf 9/00 Field of Search..... 89/1.8, 1.801, 1.805, 45, 47

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1961 Eaton 89/].805

[ Jan. 22, 1974 3,145,618 8/1964 Wilson 89/1305 3,459,102 8/1969 Phillips et 89/l.805

Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward J. Kelly; Herbert Berl; Charles R. Carter [5 7] ABSTRACT A device for moving a missle having shoes in a container or canister having lunch rails for engaging the shoes. The device includes a bracket for attachment to one end of the container, a bar disposed for movable cooperation with the rails and a ratchet for cooperation between the bracket and bar for movement thereof along the rails. A claw member is pivoted on the bar and disposed for engagement with one of the shoes for operation of the ratchet to remove the missile from the container. The claw is disposed for engagement with the shoe to slide the missile into the container.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures MISSILE EXTRACTION DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 118,015, filed Feb. 23, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the field of extraction devices. No device for extracting a missile from its storage container is known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has provided a device for moving a missile partially out of its storage container for checkout purposes and warhead exchange, and then returning the missile into the container.

This invention may be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage container with the device attached.

FIG. 2 is an end .view showing connections between the bar, ratchet, handle and pawl.

FIG. 3 is an elevation detail of parts of the device.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the ratchet and pawl.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference numeral 1 indicates a container having launch rails 3 mounted therein for guiding missile shoes 5 that are attached on a stored missile 7. A supporting bracket 9 is shown mounted by means 11 on the end of container. 1. The bracket has a plate 13 attached thereto for supporting a toothed bar 15 that is disposed in one of the guide rails 3 for movable cooperation therein, more clearly shown in FIG. 4. Bar 15 is caused to move by operation of a ratchet 17 that is mounted on shaft 19 and is supported on a plate 21 carried by bracket 9. A handle 23 is also supported on shaft 19 for actuating the ratchet and thus moving bar 15. Rotational movement of the ratchet is controlled by a reversible pawl 25 which is attached to the handle 23.

When reverse rotation of ratchet 17 is desired, pawl 25 is changed from its solid line position, shown in FIG. 5 to the dotted line position shown. The bar 15 is provided with a pivoted claw 29 at its inner end for engaging missile shoe 5. Movement of the pivoted claw is controlled by a rod 31 carried within bar 15. A spring 33 biases the claw into locked engagement with the shoe 5.

When a missile is to be partially moved out of its storage container the device is placed over the warhead end of the container and bracket 9 is attached thereto. Handle 23 is operated to actuate ratchet 17 and bar 15 until claw 29 engages shoe 5. Control rod 31 is moved to pivot the claw above the shoe, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, and the bar is again moved until it is stopped by the shoe. Rod 31 is actuated to position the claw into its solid line position as shown in FIG. 5. Pawl 25 is then swung to its reverse side and actuation of handle 23 will now cause the bar and claw to partially withdraw the missile from the container. In returning the missile into the container the pawl is swung into its original position and handle 23 operated until the missile is repositioned in the container. The control rod is operated to release the claw from the shoe so that the bar can be removed from the rail 3.

We claim:

1. A device for moving a missile having shoes in a container having launch rails for engaging the shoes comprising: a bracket for attachment to the end of said container; a toothed bar disposed within one of said rails for movable cooperation with said rail, said bar being supported by said bracket; a toothed ratchet disposed on said bracket for engaging and moving said bar along said rail; a handle including a reversible drive pawl for actuating said toothed ratchet; a pivotable claw attached to the inner end of said bar and disposed for engagement with said shoe; a rod carried by said bar and having its inner end connected to said claw to control pivoted movement of the claw, said rod extending outwardly beyond said bracket and said bar; and a spring disposed in said bar for biasing said claw into locked engagement with said shoe, said claw being disposed for engagement with said shoe when operated by said control rod to slide said missile out of and into said container when said bar is actuated by said ratchet. 

1. A device for moving a missile having shoes in a container having launch rails for engaging the shoes comprising: a bracket for attachment to the end of said container; a toothed bar disposed within one of said rails for movable cooperation with said rail, said bar being supported by said bracket; a toothed ratchet disposed on said bracket for engaging and moving said bar along said rail; a handle including a reversible drive pawl for actuating said toothed ratchet; a pivotable claw attached to the inner end of said bar and disposed for engagement with said shoe; a rod carried by said bar and having its inner end connected to said claw to control pivoted movement of the claw, said rod extending outwardly beyond said bracket and said bar; and a spring disposed in said bar for biasing said claw into locked engagement with said shoe, said claw being disposed for engagement with said shoe when operated by said control rod to slide said missile out of and into said container when said bar is actuated by said ratchet. 